“A strong infection dynamic”: the level of risk linked to avian flu in France raised from “moderate” to “high”

Highly pathogenic avian influenza, commonly known as avian flu, has spread more quickly among poultry in the European Union (EU) this season than in 2023, raising fears of a repeat of previous outbreaks, which led to the deaths of tens of millions of animals, as well as concerns of human-to-human transmission.

The high level of risk implies that all poultry must be kept indoors throughout the metropolitan territory and that additional safety measures must be taken to avoid the spread of the disease.

Eight homes in France

“This order qualifying the level of highly pathogenic avian influenza risk is taken following the confirmation of a strong dynamic of infection in migratory wild avifauna in neighboring countries”, can we read in the decree.

The increase in the risk level comes earlier than last year, since it comes into force at the beginning of November instead of December.

France has reported eight outbreaks of bird flu on farms since the summer and last month launched a second vaccination campaign for farmed ducks, following the success of last year’s programme.

France was the first EU country to vaccinate poultry against the virus last fall. The British government said on Tuesday that cases of bird flu had been confirmed in Yorkshire, hours after raising the level of high risk of disease